The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Singapore > Corporate and M&A: local firms

Allen & Gledhill LLP has an outstanding record in real estate, healthcare and financial services M&A, and is a growing presence in private equity (especially private equity real estate) and venture capital. The team is 'driven, client-focused and pragmatic' and has significant presence in domestic, regional and global deals. The celebrated Andrew Lim and Lim Mei co-head the practice. Christian Chin, Richard Young, Prawiro Widjaja, Christopher Koh, Lee Kee Yeng and Song Su-Min are also highly rated.

WongPartnership LLP is a recognised force in strategic M&A and private equity. It routinely advises top regional and international corporates and financial sponsors. While noted for big-ticket deals it has also advised a number of private equity clients on growth capital investments and smaller to mid-cap deals. Moreover, it is frequently engaged by international law firms on the Singapore or regional component of global and multi-jurisdictional deals. Real estate and technology are particularly active industry sectors for the team. Managing partner Ng Wai King has 'a major market share of the private equity sector', while having a fine record in strategic M&A, and head of the M&A practice Andrew Ang is recognised for big-ticket public M&A and private equity deals. Mark Choy, Chan Sing Yee, Low Kah Keong  and Quak Fi Ling are also highly commended.

Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC has a deep mix of localised and global expertise, advising a variety of Singapore-listed companies and other domestic and international corporates. The firm has demonstrated a strong record in reverse takeovers and keen industry expertise in life sciences, consumer, real estate, food and beverages, and private equity among other sectors. Regional experience includes Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. As a Catalist Continuing Sponsor, the firm has developed close links to a number of corporates listed on Singapore's growth company focused exchange. Suet-Fern Lee and Wai Ming Yap are highly rated along with Joo Khin Ng and Bernard Lui. Vanessa Ng joined the firm from Fortis Law Corporation. Daniel Yong has joined Withers KhattarWong LLP.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP has maintained a steady pipeline of M&A deals, including a marked increase in take privates and has made an impression in REIT mergers. Its strong regional presence has led to an impressive number of deals involving Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia especially. The firm is also active in deals involving Singapore businesses investing in Europe, Africa and Latin America. Key sectors include insurance, healthcare, banking and real estate. Chia Kim Huat leads the corporate and transactional group, which includes Abdul Jabbar Bin Karam Din, Evelyn Wee, Lawrence Tan, Lim Wee Hann and the highly rated Sandy Foo, who is recognised for handling big-ticket transactions.

TSMP Law Corporation has made a further impression in public and private deals and corporate real estate transactions. It also receives regular engagements from financial advisers to M&A deals. It has an especially strong standing in TMT and REIT transactions. Stefanie Yuen Thio has an outstanding reputation for dealmaking, while Jennifer Chia is noted for corporate real estate deals.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow is widely seen as a local law firm, despite having a wide range of strong international lawyers. Indeed, it has successfully married local with international to achieve a presence in big-ticket and complex transactions. It is noted for Singapore takeovers and public M&A, and frequently advises major regional and international corporates. It is also achieving growth in private equity, real estate and TMT, including fintech transactions. Ai Ai Wong and Min-tze Lean  are the key partners.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP has achieved considerable growth in M&A and corporate transactions, including venture capital fund raisings, public takeovers, reverse takeovers and regional energy deals. The firm is expanding its corporate venture capital client base, along with a growing contingent of startups and Chinese companies. Life sciences, technology and energy are its primary industry sectors. Marcus Chow heads the Singapore corporate team, mixing deep corporate and M&A expertise with extensive capital markets experience. Sandra Seah and Ken Cheung provide additional energy sector expertise, with the former also known for infrastructure and real estate deals.

CNPLaw LLP has an established practice with a notable record in cross-border M&A, Singapore takeovers and funds-related transactions. Fintech continues to be a growth area for the team. Ken Chia heads the corporate advisory practice, while Bill Jamieson and Amit Dhume co-head the funds and private equity group.

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP has continued to make a mark in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional deals for Singapore-based and multinational clients. It also remains a leading name in corporate real estate transactions. The firm is also making an impression in healthcare, technology and consumer products deals; it has made particular headway in fintech and blockchain thanks to the efforts of Kenneth Oh. Ng Eng Leng leads the M&A practice and S Sivanesan heads the corporate group, which includes senior figure Valerie Ong.

Drew & Napier LLC remains active in take privates, delistings and headline strategic M&A transactions. The team has a broad array of experience, including TMT sector deals. Steven Lo heads the M&A practice, which includes respected consultant Gary Pryke, who continues to deploy his technical experience to a range of transactions. Tan Teng Sen and Jon Nair are emerging names.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP has a long history with Western and North Asian clients and has a growing number of engagements from Chinese businesses; it has a number of Chinese-qualified partners and Mandarin speakers across the team. It has extensive experience in healthcare, technology, media and education especially and is also a growing force in private equity and venture capital investments. David Chong is a prominent name, as is Ho Ying Ming, while Teo Mae Shaan is noted for healthcare deals.

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP has a strong regional profile with expertise in a wide range of cross-border transactions, along with Singapore public M&A and takeovers, and a growing number of private equity deals. The team has an impressive mix of those with Singapore law and other international law backgrounds. It has weighty experience in energy and infrastructure deals and a growing number of technology and fintech engagements. Krishna Ramachandra heads the team and Leon Yee leads the China practice group that has developed numerous Chinese clients. Mark Wong is also noted for China investments into Southeast Asia.

Prolegis LLC has a fruitful local alliance with Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the two firms frequently working alongside each other on big-ticket cross-border deals. The firm is noted for corporate transactions and fund investments, and has healthy experience in real estate, TMT and energy. Ban Leong Oo founded the firm and has an outstanding reputation, while Safa Zahedi is noted for TMT transactions. Of counsel Sandra Tsao is also making an impression. Eugene Lee has joined Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.

Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC has carved out an impressive market share of private M&A, private equity, venture capital and growth capital; the firm has gained quite a following of mid-market private equity houses and their portfolio companies. Beyond this, the firm is gradually attracting engagements from Singapore-listed companies and a number of Hong Kong-based businesses. Kenneth Leong has made a particular impression in the market and Lau Kiat Wee joined the team from WongPartnership LLP in June 2019. Associate director Keith Oh is also rated.

Virtus Law LLP - Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance has an impressive mix of private and public M&A, including a high volume of deals involving Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines; the firm has a particularly fruitful connection to Christian Teo & Partners in Jakarta. The firm has achieved prominence in headline deals around the region and has achieved particular growth in healthcare transactions. It remains active in tech sector transactions, including venture capital investments. Elaine Beh and Parikhit Sarma are the senior figures in the team.

Withers KhattarWong LLP's association with the private wealth sector has resulted in considerable growth in engagements from family offices, including those from Indonesia and China. Energy, mining and technology are the primary sectors for the team. Winston Seow is the primary partner in the team, along with Leong Chuo Ming and Erlene Tan who has joined the firm from RPC Premier Law. Farhana Sharmeen has joined Latham & Watkins LLP. Private funds and cross-border investment specialist Daniel Yong has joined from Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC alongside a team of two associates.